83 FR 15820 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 71 (April 12, 2018)

Page Range		15820-15821
FR Document		2018-07621

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application contains all of the required information and warrant further consideration. The Exempted Fishing Permit would allow commercial fishing vessels to land Atlantic halibut under the minimum size limit and in excess of the possession limit. This EFP is required to support an Atlantic halibut study by the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, School for Marine Science and Technology, and The Nature Conservancy to improve future halibut stock assessments. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15820-15821]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07621]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG149


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic 
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary 
determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application contains all 
of the required information and warrant further consideration. The 
Exempted Fishing Permit would allow commercial fishing vessels to land 
Atlantic halibut under the minimum size limit and in excess of the 
possession limit. This EFP is required to support an Atlantic halibut 
study by the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, School for Marine 
Science and Technology, and The Nature Conservancy to improve future 
halibut stock assessments.
    Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act require publication of this notification to provide 
interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for 
proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 27, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on TNC Atlantic halibut EFP.''
     Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, NMFS, 
Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``TNC Atlantic Halibut EFP.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Spencer Talmage, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9232, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Nature Conservancy (TNC) submitted a 
complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on March 6, 
2018, which requests a renewal of an EFP issued last year to collect 
biological samples of halibut. The project is funded through the 
Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program, and seeks to address identified 
information gaps in order to improve future Atlantic halibut stock 
assessments. Research focuses on characteristics such as stock 
structure, seasonal movements, behavior, and life history. The renewal 
application requests the same exemptions from the regulations that were 
approved for the 2017 fishing year. The exemptions include the Atlantic 
halibut possession limit, as described in Sec.  648.86(c), and the 
Atlantic halibut minimum size limit, as described in Sec.  
648.83(a)(1).
    The EFP would authorize 21 commercial fishing vessels to collect 
biological samples of halibut during regular fishing operations. A 
maximum of five halibut may be sampled per trip. Participating vessels 
may land halibut under the minimum size limit and/or above the 
possession limit provided these fish are transferred to participating 
researchers for additional data collection. The EFP issued for the 2017 
fishing year allowed for a total sampling size of 250 halibut sampled 
across the entirety of the project. To date, TNC has sampled 132 
halibut. The renewed EFP would increase the total sample size to 275. 
TNC requested this increase in order to fully utilize Saltonstall-
Kennedy Grant Program funding. Sampling would include recording of fish 
length and weight, as well as removal of gonads, otoliths, and genetic 
material.
    The exemption from the minimum size limit would allow researchers 
to collect data from all sizes of halibut, which is necessary to ensure 
that results of the project are accurate and reflective of the halibut 
population. The exemption from the possession limit is necessary to 
ensure that the researchers are able to obtain sufficient biological 
samples to conduct their research. No halibut above the possession 
limit or below the minimum size limit could be landed for sale.
    Fishing under the EFP would occur during the 2018 fishing year, 
from May 1, 2018 through April 30, 2019. Participating vessels would 
use multiple gear types, including handline/jig, longline, sink 
gillnet, and otter trawl. Fishing would occur throughout both the Gulf 
of Maine and the Georges Bank Regulated Mesh Areas, primarily in 
statistical areas 514, 521, 522, 525, and 526.

[[Page 15821]]

    If approved, the applicants may request minor modifications and 
extensions to the EFPs throughout the year. EFP modifications and 
extensions may be granted without further notice if they are deemed 
essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and have 
minimal impacts that do not change the scope or impact of the initially 
approved EFP request. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope 
of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 9, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-07621 Filed 4-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

15820 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2018 / Notices

7. This Authorization may be Dated: April 9, 2018. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
modified, suspended or withdrawn if Donna S. Wieting, Nature Conservancy (TNC) submitted a
the holder fails to abide by the Director, Office of Protected Resources, complete application for an Exempted
conditions prescribed herein, or if National Marine Fisheries Service. Fishing Permit (EFP) on March 6, 2018,
NMFS determines the authorized taking [FR Doc. 2018–07573 Filed 4–11–18; 8:45 am] which requests a renewal of an EFP
is having more than a negligible impact BILLING CODE 3510–22–P issued last year to collect biological
on the species or stock of affected samples of halibut. The project is
marine mammals. funded through the Saltonstall-Kennedy
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Grant Program, and seeks to address
Request for Public Comments identified information gaps in order to
National Oceanic and Atmospheric improve future Atlantic halibut stock
We request comment on our analyses, Administration assessments. Research focuses on
the proposed authorization, and any characteristics such as stock structure,
other aspect of this Notice of Proposed RIN 0648–XG149
seasonal movements, behavior, and life
IHA for the proposed pier implosion Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; history. The renewal application
and pile driving. We also request General Provisions for Domestic requests the same exemptions from the
comment on the potential for renewal of Fisheries; Application for Exempted regulations that were approved for the
this proposed IHA as described in the Fishing Permits 2017 fishing year. The exemptions
paragraph below. Please include with include the Atlantic halibut possession
your comments any supporting data or AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries limit, as described in § 648.86(c), and
literature citations to help inform our Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and the Atlantic halibut minimum size limit,
final decision on the request for MMPA Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as described in § 648.83(a)(1).
authorization. Commerce. The EFP would authorize 21
ACTION: Notice; request for comments. commercial fishing vessels to collect
On a case-by-case basis, NMFS may biological samples of halibut during
issue a second one-year IHA without SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional regular fishing operations. A maximum
additional notice when (1) another year Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, of five halibut may be sampled per trip.
of identical or nearly identical activities Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has Participating vessels may land halibut
as described in the Specified Activities made a preliminary determination that under the minimum size limit and/or
section is planned or (2) the activities an Exempted Fishing Permit application above the possession limit provided
would not be completed by the time the contains all of the required information these fish are transferred to participating
IHA expires and a second IHA would and warrant further consideration. The researchers for additional data
allow for completion of the activities Exempted Fishing Permit would allow collection. The EFP issued for the 2017
beyond that described in the Dates and commercial fishing vessels to land fishing year allowed for a total sampling
Duration section, provided all of the Atlantic halibut under the minimum size of 250 halibut sampled across the
following conditions are met: size limit and in excess of the entirety of the project. To date, TNC has
possession limit. This EFP is required to sampled 132 halibut. The renewed EFP
• A request for renewal is received no
support an Atlantic halibut study by the would increase the total sample size to
later than 60 days prior to expiration of 275. TNC requested this increase in
University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth,
the current IHA; School for Marine Science and order to fully utilize Saltonstall-
• The request for renewal must Technology, and The Nature Kennedy Grant Program funding.
include the following: Conservancy to improve future halibut Sampling would include recording of
(1) An explanation that the activities stock assessments. fish length and weight, as well as
to be conducted beyond the initial dates Regulations under the Magnuson- removal of gonads, otoliths, and genetic
Stevens Fishery Conservation and material.
either are identical to the previously
Management Act require publication of The exemption from the minimum
analyzed activities or include changes size limit would allow researchers to
so minor (e.g., reduction in pile size) this notification to provide interested
parties the opportunity to comment on collect data from all sizes of halibut,
that the changes do not affect the which is necessary to ensure that results
applications for proposed Exempted
previous analyses, take estimates, or of the project are accurate and reflective
Fishing Permits.
mitigation and monitoring of the halibut population. The
requirements; and DATES: Comments must be received on
exemption from the possession limit is
or before April 27, 2018.
(2) A preliminary monitoring report necessary to ensure that the researchers
ADDRESSES: You may submit written are able to obtain sufficient biological
showing the results of the required
comments by any of the following samples to conduct their research. No
monitoring to date and an explanation
methods: halibut above the possession limit or
showing that the monitoring results do • Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov.
not indicate impacts of a scale or nature below the minimum size limit could be
Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments landed for sale.
not previously analyzed or authorized; on TNC Atlantic halibut EFP.’’
and Fishing under the EFP would occur
• Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional during the 2018 fishing year, from May
• Upon review of the request for Administrator, NMFS, Northeast 1, 2018 through April 30, 2019.
renewal, the status of the affected Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Participating vessels would use multiple
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

species or stocks, and any other Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the gear types, including handline/jig,
pertinent information, NMFS outside of the envelope ‘‘TNC Atlantic longline, sink gillnet, and otter trawl.
determines that there are no more than Halibut EFP.’’ Fishing would occur throughout both
minor changes in the activities, the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: the Gulf of Maine and the Georges Bank
mitigation and monitoring measures Spencer Talmage, Fishery Management Regulated Mesh Areas, primarily in
remain the same and appropriate, and Specialist, 978–281–9232, statistical areas 514, 521, 522, 525, and
the original findings remain valid. Spencer.Talmage@noaa.gov. 526.

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2018 / Notices 15821

If approved, the applicants may Purpose of the Meeting: The purpose DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
request minor modifications and of the meeting is to provide advice on
[Docket ID ED–2017–IES–0095]
extensions to the EFPs throughout the scientific, technical, intelligence, and
year. EFP modifications and extensions policy-related issues to the Commander, Privacy Act of 1974; System of
may be granted without further notice if U.S. Strategic Command, during the Records
they are deemed essential to facilitate development of the Nation’s strategic
completion of the proposed research war plans. AGENCY: Institute of Education Sciences,
and have minimal impacts that do not Department of Education.
change the scope or impact of the Agenda: Topics include: Policy
ACTION: Notice of a new system of
initially approved EFP request. Any Issues, Space Operations, Nuclear
records.
fishing activity conducted outside the Weapons Stockpile Assessment,
scope of the exempted fishing activity Weapons of Mass Destruction, SUMMARY: In accordance with the
would be prohibited. Intelligence Operations, Cyber Privacy Act of 1974, as amended
Operations, Global Strike, Command (Privacy Act), the Department of
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
and Control, Science and Technology, Education (the Department) publishes
Dated: April 9, 2018. Missile Defense. this notice of a new system of records
Jennifer M. Wallace, entitled ‘‘Impact Evaluation of Parent
Meeting Accessibility: Pursuant to 5
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Messaging Strategies on Student
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
U.S.C. 552b, and 41 CFR 102–3.155, the
Department of Defense has determined Attendance (18–13–42).’’ This system
[FR Doc. 2018–07621 Filed 4–11–18; 8:45 am]
that the meeting shall be closed to the contains individually identifying
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P information voluntarily provided by
public. Per delegated authority by the
individuals and districts who
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, General
participate in the impact study. The
John E. Hyten, Commander, U.S. information contained in the records
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Strategic Command, in consultation maintained in this system will be used
Office of the Secretary with his legal advisor, has determined to conduct a rigorous study of the
in writing that the public interest effectiveness of a low-cost, parent-
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Advisory Group; Notice of Advisory be closed to the public because they will meant to reduce elementary school
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ACTION: Notice of Advisory Committee CFR 102–3.140(c), the public or new system of records notice on or
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publishing this notice to announce that the Federal Register on April 12, 2018,
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the following Federal Advisory unless the new system of records notice
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sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

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Officer, Department of Defense.
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[FR Doc. 2018–07590 Filed 4–11–18; 8:45 am]
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Document Created: 2018-11-02 08:15:04
Document Modified: 2018-11-02 08:15:04

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice; request for comments.
Dates		Comments must be received on or before April 27, 2018.
Contact		Spencer Talmage, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9232, [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 15820
RIN Number		0648-XG14

83 FR 15820 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 71 (April 12, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration